Clothes-pounder



(No Model.)

W. SWENSON. CLOTHES POUNDER.

Patented May 4, 1897.

sses l nrnwr rricn,

WVILLIAM SIVEN SON, OF ROSELAND, LOUISIANA.

CLOTHES-POUNDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,964, dated May 4, 1897.

- A li ati n fil d December 19, 1896. erial No. 616,366. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM SwENsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roseland, in the parish of Tangipahoa and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVashing-Machines and I do declare the following-to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in washing-machines; and it has for its general object to provide a washing-machine which while very cheap and simple is adapted to expeditiously and thoroughly wash clothes, and this with but little exertion on the part of the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the inventi on will be fully understood from the fol lowing description and claims when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical diametrical section of my improved washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the piston-rod, with parts in section and the plunger removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plunger and its shank; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the body of the machine with parts broken away.

In the said drawings similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views, referring to which- A indicates the body of my improved washing-machine, which may be and preferably is formed of tin or other suitable sheet metal. This body A has the upper cylinder B, which is open at its upper and lower ends, and the base C,'which is connected to the lower end of the cylinder B and is flared toward its lower end, as shown. Said body A also has the foraminated bottom D, which is in the form of a truncated cone and extends from the lower end of the base O, to which it is connected, to a point adjacent to the upper end of said base, where it has the verticallydisposed and central sleeve E. This sleeve E preferably extends a considerable distance above and slightly below the upper end of the cone-shaped bottom D, and it is designed to receive the hollow piston-rod F. (Better illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.)

G indicates a handle, preferably of wood, which is arranged and suitably secured in the upper end of the rod F, and H indicates the piston, which is fixed to the rod F and is designed to be reciprocated in the cylinder B. This piston H is cone-shap'ed, so that when it is forced down in the cylinder the air will be contracted toward its center, and consequently a portion of such air will be forced through the aperture I in the hollow rod F and down said rod, for a purpose presently described. Said piston H is also provided with the depending marginal flange J, which is slitted for a portion of its width, so as to enable it to fit tight within the cylinder B and compensate for any wear that may take place between it and the interior of said cylinder. From this it will be appreciated that when the piston H is forced downwardly in the cylinder B little or no air will escape past said piston, and in consequence such air will be forced before the piston through the perforated bottom D of the body A and the clothes beneath said body and will carrywith it the water and dirt in the clothes.

K indicates a cone-shaped and perforated plunger, which maybe connected to the lower end of the piston-rod F in any suitable manner, but which is here shown as having a hollow shank inserted and secured in the lower end of said rod. This plunger is designed when forced downwardly to press the clothes, and thus assist the blast of air from the cylinder B in forcing the water and dirt out of the same, and it is also designed and adapted to enable the blast of air which passes from the cylinder B through the aperture I and rod F to enter the clothes and assist in performing the function of forcing the dirt and water out of the clothes.

In order to prevent noise incident to the operation of my improved machine I provide the piston F with the washer L, of rubber, felt, or other suitable material, which is designed to strike the upper end of the sleeve E when the piston is also forced downwardly, and I also provide the washer M, of rubber or felt, above the plunger K, which is designed to strike the lower end of the sleeve E when the piston-rod is moved upwardly.

In the operation of my improved machine the clothes to be washed are placed in a tub or other suitable receptacle with warm water and soap] or; soap powder, and the body A of the machine is placed upon the'clothes and the piston-rod F is reciprocated. As said rod is forced down the major portion of the'air'in" the cylinder B will be forced through the perforated bottom D andthroughtheclothes and j ntawasmn g machine, the combination the, loodycomprising the cylinder B, the I ollliieglld to the cylinder, the 1 cone.- ed, foraminat'ed bottom connected to the K. ott manTappe ce ral sleeve, arranged at theupper end of said bot:

H of the hollow piston-rod extending through the sleeve of the body and open at the lower end and having the aperture 1, at an intermediate point of its length, the piston arranged and adapted to movein the cylinder B,'an'd' connected to the piston-rod above the aperture I, therein, and the plunger connected to the lower end of the piston-rod and arranged and adapted to move below the foraminated bottom of the body, substantially as described.

The remainder of the airin thecylm; of o h ow ri tooa d h ioosh o o vo'ofthe dya loo 1 lowo n dho i ooporwro I 3 termediate pointof'its length, ranged in the cylinder and connecte L y pistonfrod above the aperture ,1, there n, having ,the slitted marginalyflangegth ger, connected tov the .lowol fil dgpf the j rod-a d r ansod ao roflooteci t the. forcm nato bottom of 2. In a washing-machine, the combination witlr'the' body'co npri'sijng the cylinder B, the base connected to said cylinder; the coneshaped, foraminated bottom connected to the "'base and the vertically-disposed central sleeve arranged at the upper end of said bottom;i'oft alpistonrod extending through the sleeve of the body, and the piston arranged and adapted to move in the cylinder B, and connected to the piston-rod, substantially as specified.

3. In a washing-machine, the combination with the body" comprisingthe'cylind'er B, the *base' connected to dthe. cylinder, the coneshaped, foraminated bottom connected to the base, and the.vertically disposedsleeve.z arranged the upper end of itral '4 lrxlif dy s washers fixed to the piston-rod above and below the central sleeve and adapted to strike the opposite ends of said sleeve, substantially, as described. p g K In testimony whereof I aflir; my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VM. SWENSON.

Witnesses:

R. W. OSBORNE, G. F. HOOSE. 

